Simple enough. Ask the owner of the shop where he got the Grange from. If it's from a distributor with legitimate distribution rights to Penfolds (or wines of Southcorp) wines, then it's authentic. If not, there's always reason to question.

I'm not surprised by the price, though. Grange has been climbing steadily in recent years. A question of rarity rather than sheer quality, though, since there are now dozens of extraordinary, Shiraz based Australian reds available these days, for far less than this. I'm saying this simply because I have sat through a couple of verticals of the wine recently, and I can't say I've been overwhelmed. Nowadays they're more for the collectors who couldn't tell a great wine from a hole in the whatever, and lord knows there are tons of those as well.

Hello Ludgero!
Not a retailer, but a consumer, so can only visit the bottles that I own. Randy is correct.
Yet what is more important is the wine that you will share with you special friend. Now, many of us know Penfolds, mostly for their affordable reds, Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 407, and for a few that know Shiraz, Bin 28, and the everyday Cab/Shiraz 389, which just might the biggest inexpensive wide bodied ever! But your bottle, if it's for real, is a classic. Not as dark on the look as others, but the wine is deep in aromas, slightly thick with plum and abundant fruit flavors, definately set. Course it is structured, with a spicy (typical) mid palate, and quite positively oaked, with very noticeable tannins (first one uncorked in 1999, still there last year). But if anything, the second bottle showed a levelness at the very long finish. Only have six Granges, all doubles, and think you will enjoy this sucker one whole lot!

Did not say the wine was $500! Only said it was a beauty, among other outstanding vintages. Wonder why so many folks leave your board, after one or two visits. What kind of lingo is appropriate for these inquiring folks, and why do we intimidate them with less than straightforward answers. What a group, devoted to self destructiion!

Vinman, the reply was in general, not directed at you. I found the retailer trying to stick it to the guy for $595 ridiculous. You can't wear your feelings on your sleeves on the internet -- as the above posts show how difficult it can be to transfer meaning.

Vinman, must make a comment. " Wonder why so many people leave your board?......Self Destructive! " Vin, unless my arithmetic is flawed we have shown at least 10% monthly growth for the last 2 years. I think any site on the net would love to have this performance. The only noticible exits I've seen are the idiots who come onboard just to wreak havoc with either profanity, mad students who have to do their own homework, or thin-skinned types with no sense of humor that take offense at " hello". As far as being self-destructive, I for one admit to that, as alcohol in itself is self-destructive....but what a way to go in my
form of choice. I agree wholeheartedly with Buckos comments. As was later revealed by the poster he failed to give one SMALL piece of info. As my children tell me " Dad, chill out, smooth out, and smile " WW

as Foodie said when I misunderstood his intent, (paraphrased) it is very hard to completely understand someone's meaning or intent in this limited medium. it is very easy to misinterpret a dry ir direct sense of humor. this is really true. it is so easy to take quick offense, especially in this type of area, where opinions are strong, and people "not in the know" can feel "inferior or dopey". i have learned that the people here are humorous, informative and the vast majority are positive and friendly.